Simi Valley Coach Calls Violation ‘Human Error’ : Prep football: Quina reprimanded by school for conducting early practice.

Simi Valley High football Coach Stan Quina on Thursday characterized a Southern Section rules violation by his team as “human error” that stemmed from a misinterpretation of section rules regarding football practices.

Quina, who led Simi Valley to a 7-4 mark last fall, Thursday was reprimanded by school administrators for holding an illegal practice Tuesday. The first day of spring practice for Southern Section schools is Monday.

Quina said the violation was an isolated incident.

“My first priority is to run a clean program and to make sure everything is on the up-and-up,” he said. “This was a human error. There are no repeated violations that I am aware of.”

Under section rules, players may participate in one daily football-related physical education class before spring practice begins. Simi Valley football players are enrolled in a sixth-period physical education course.

A Simi Valley administrator said Quina, a walk-on coach and substitute teacher in the Simi Valley Unified School District, often cannot attend practice until after sixth period because his teaching schedule varies.

The administrator said Quina mistakenly believed that if his players attended study hall during sixth period, practice could be held after school.

Bill Clark, the Southern Section administrator in charge of football, would not say whether sanctions will be forthcoming until he receives a written response from Simi Valley regarding its in-house inquiry into the matter.

Clark, who received a tip from an anonymous caller regarding the after-school practices, this week directed Simi Valley to investigate possible violations and to respond “as soon as possible.”

According to the Simi Valley administrator, the football team was conducting conditioning drills in preparation for spring practice. Quina completed his second year at Simi Valley in 1991 and prior to his hiring had not served as a head coach.

“Until this particular week, Stan didn’t go out on the field after school,” the administrator said. “This was just kind of a dress rehearsal for spring practice.”

In Quina’s second season as coach, Simi Valley rebounded from an 0-10 mark to qualify for the section’s Division II playoffs.